History, Facts and
Information about TacitusThe content of this article
provides interesting history, facts and information about
the Emperor Tacitus who ruled the empire of Ancient Rome. Read about the life of Tacitus who can be described or remembered
as:

"The
Emperor who followed the Interregnum..."

Short Biography
about the life of Tacitus
Short Biography profile and facts about one of the most famous Romans of all, in the life of
Tacitus, Emperor of Rome and provinces of the Roman Empire.

Name commonly known as: Tacitus

Latin Roman Name: Marcus
Claudius Tacitus

Reigned as Roman Emperor /
Caesar: September 25, 275 - June 276

Dynasty / Historical Period:
Crisis of the Third Century (235 - 284) the era of Illyrian Emperors
(268 - 285)

Place and Date of Birth:
Born ca. 200 in Interamna

Name of previous Emperor: His predecessor or the Emperor before Tacitus was Aurelian(Empress Zenobiaruled part of the Eastern Empire)

Interesting facts
about the life of Tacitus
Obtain a fast overview of the times of the Roman Emperor
Tacitus from the following facts and information about his life. Why was Tacitus
famous? Accomplishments, achievements and important
events. The reign of the Emperor Tacitus followed the
Interregnum when the Senate eventually appointed the
virtuous Tacitus as the successor to Aurelian. Tacitus
claimed a descent from his namesake, the famous historian,
although this claim has been strongly disputed. When he was
appointed as Emperor, Tacitus was seventy years old. The
first act of Tacitus was to have the murdered Emperor
Aurelian deified. He then seized and executed those involved
in plotting Aurelian's murder. This gained him the support
of the people and the military. Tacitus then followed where
Aurelian had ended his reign and directed his attention to
the threat to the Eastern provinces. Tacitus appointed his
half-brother Florianus Praetorian Prefect and together they
campaigned in the East against the invaders. However,
Tacitus sank under the hardships of his first campaign and
died A.D. 276, at Tyania, in Cappadocia. The circumstances
surrounding his death remains a mystery. Historians state
that he was either assassinated by his own troops
after an indecisive campaign or died of the plague. He
had ruled as emperor for less than one year. His half
brother Florianus then ascended the throne.

The InterregnumThe army took revenge for the murder
of Emperor Aurelianby tearing his assassin in pieces.
They then wrote a respectful letter to the Senate, asking
the Senators to select his successor. The Senate, however,
passed a decree that the army should name the new emperor.
The soldiers refused, and for eight months an interregnum
prevailed while this friendly contest continued. Eventually
the Senate appointed the virtuous seventy year old Tacitus
as the next Emperor of Rome.

Definition of Interregnum
The definition of an interregnum (plural interregna or
interregnums) is the time between the reigns of two rulers
when the throne is unoccupied - literally meaning 'between
reigns'.

Tacitus - Dynasties of Roman Emperors -
Illyrian Emperors (268 - 285)The Illyrian Emperors (268
- 285). The "Illyrian emperors" is the name given to the
Roman emperors who governed the Roman Empire between 268 and
282. Illyria was a region in the western part of
today's Balkan Peninsula. The people for Illyria were renown
for their military prowess and they became an important
source of manpower for the Roman army. Because of their
military strength many of the emperors from this period came
from Illyria.